U.S. patent application number 15/698363 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-07 for systems and methods for monitoring delivery compliance times of online orders.
This patent application is currently assigned to WAL-MART STORES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is WAL-MART STORES, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael Gilbert Ebener, Vidyanand Krishnan, Austin Lee Smith.
Application Number | 20190073626 15/698363 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65518185 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-07 |
![](/patent/app/20190073626/US20190073626A1-20190307-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190073626/US20190073626A1-20190307-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190073626/US20190073626A1-20190307-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190073626/US20190073626A1-20190307-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190073626/US20190073626A1-20190307-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190073626/US20190073626A1-20190307-D00005.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190073626 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Austin Lee ; et
al. |
March 7, 2019 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING DELIVERY COMPLIANCE TIMES OF
ONLINE ORDERS
Abstract
Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and
one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing
instructions configured to run on the one or more processing
modules and perform acts of receiving an order from a customer for
a delivery of grocery items to a fulfillment location, determining
a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the grocery
items, receiving a pickup notification indicating that a pickup has
picked up the grocery items at a first time, determining, at a
second time after the first time, if a duration of time between the
first time and the second time is greater than the delivery
compliance time, and, if the duration of time between the first
time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance
time, coordinating displaying an expiration message on a pickup
interface of a pickup electronic device of the pickup.
Inventors: |
Smith; Austin Lee;
(Burlingame, CA) ; Krishnan; Vidyanand;
(Sunnyvale, CA) ; Ebener; Michael Gilbert; (San
Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WAL-MART STORES, INC. |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Bentonville
AR
|
Family ID: |
65518185 |
Appl. No.: |
15/698363 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06316 20130101;
G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 10/08355
20130101; G06Q 30/0641 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20060101
G06Q010/08; G06Q 10/06 20060101 G06Q010/06; G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: one or more processing modules; and one or
more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions
configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform
acts of: receiving an order from a customer electronic device of a
customer for a delivery of one or more grocery items to a
fulfillment location, the fulfillment location comprising a
delivery location requested by the customer; determining a delivery
compliance time for at least one item of the one or more grocery
items, wherein if the at least one item is outside of a
temperature-controlled environment for a period of time that is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one
item, then the at least one item expires; receiving a pickup
notification indicating that the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items has been removed from the temperature-controlled
environment at a store at a first time for a pickup to pick up the
one or more grocery items from the store and deliver the one or
more grocery items to the delivery location requested by the
customer; determining, at a second time after the first time, if a
duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one item
of the one or more grocery items; and if the duration of time
between the first time and the second time is greater than the
delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items, coordinating displaying an expiration message
on a pickup interface of a pickup electronic device of the
pickup.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the expiration message changes
the fulfillment location for the order from the delivery location
requested by the customer to a return location designated by the
store.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery compliance time for
the at least one item of the one or more grocery items is based on
one or more of (1) a calendar day of a year or (2) an outside
temperature within a predetermined distance to the store.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more non-transitory
storage modules storing the computing instructions are further
configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform
acts of: determining the at least one item of the one or more
grocery items of the order comprises a refrigerated item or a
frozen item; adding the order to a compliance list, the compliance
list comprising a plurality of orders comprising at least one
refrigerated item or at least one frozen item; receiving an
electronic signature from the customer indicating the order has
been delivered to the customer within the delivery compliance time
of the at least one item; and removing the order from the
compliance list after receiving the electronic signature from the
customer; determining the delivery compliance time, comprises: if
the at least one item of the one or more grocery items comprises
the refrigerated item or the frozen item, determining for each item
of the at least one item of the one or more grocery items, its own
delivery compliance time; and determining, at the second time after
the first time, if the duration of time between the first time and
the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for
the at least one item of the one or more grocery items comprises:
repeatedly determining, at a plurality of second times after the
first time until the electronic signature is received from the
customer, if the duration of time between the first time and each
second time of the plurality of second times is greater than any of
the delivery compliance times for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more grocery items of
the order comprise a plurality of grocery items; the one or more
non-transitory storage modules storing the computing instructions
are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules
and perform an act of determining that the plurality of grocery
items comprise at least two temperature-controlled items;
determining the delivery compliance time for the at least one item
of the one or more grocery items comprises: determining a first
delivery compliance time for a first temperature-controlled item of
the at least two temperature-controlled items; determining a second
delivery compliance time for a second temperature-controlled item
of the at least two temperature-controlled items; and determining a
composite delivery compliance time, the composite delivery
compliance time comprising a lesser of the first compliance
delivery time and the second compliance delivery time; receiving
the pickup notification comprises receiving the pickup notification
indicating that the at least two temperature-controlled items have
been removed from the temperature-controlled environment at the
first time; determining if the duration of time between the first
time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance
time for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items
comprises: determining, at the second time after the first time, if
the duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the composite delivery compliance time; and
coordinating displaying the expiration message on the pickup
interface of the pickup electronic device of the pickup comprises:
if the duration of time between the first time and the second time
is greater than the composite delivery compliance time,
coordinating displaying the expiration message on the pickup
interface of the pickup electronic device of the pickup.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-transitory
storage modules storing the computing instructions are further
configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform
an act of: if the duration of time between the first time and the
second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for the at
least one item of the one or more grocery items, coordinating
displaying an update message on a customer interface of the
customer electronic device, the update message indicating the
pickup has been re-routed to a return location.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery compliance time
includes a buffer time for (1) transporting the one or more grocery
items from the store to a vehicle of the pickup and (2) loading the
one or more grocery items into the vehicle.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-transitory
storage modules storing the computing instructions are further
configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform
an act of: if the duration of time between the first time and the
second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for the at
least one item of the one or more grocery items, coordinating
displaying on a store interface of a store electronic device a
pickup return notification indicating that the pickup is returning
to the return location due to an expiration of the delivery
compliance time for the at least one item before the delivery of
the order.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-transitory
storage modules storing the computing instructions are further
configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform
acts of: tracking a pickup location of the pickup after the pickup
has left the store with the order to deliver the order to the
customer; repeatedly determining a remaining estimated travel time
between the pickup location as tracked and the delivery location;
determining if the remaining estimated travel time exceeds a
remaining time in the delivery compliance time of the at least one
item by a predetermined margin; and if the estimated travel time
exceeds the remaining time in the delivery compliance time of the
at least one item by the predetermined margin, coordinating
displaying an expected expiration message on the pickup interface
of the pickup electronic device of the pickup, wherein the expected
expiration message changes the fulfillment location for the order
from the delivery location requested by the customer to a return
location designated by the store.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein: the expiration message changes
the fulfillment location for the order from the delivery location
requested by the customer to a return location designated by the
store; the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of
the one or more grocery items is based on one or more of (1) a
calendar day of a year or (2) an outside temperature within a
predetermined distance to the store; the one or more non-transitory
storage modules storing the computing instructions are further
configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform
acts of: determining the at least one item of the one or more
grocery items of the order comprises a refrigerated item or a
frozen item; adding the order to a compliance list, the compliance
list comprising a plurality of orders comprising at least one
refrigerated item or at least one frozen item; receiving an
electronic signature from the customer indicating the order has
been delivered to the customer within the delivery compliance time
of the at least one item; and removing the order from the
compliance list after receiving the electronic signature from the
customer; determining the delivery compliance time, comprises: if
the at least one item of the one or more grocery items comprises
the refrigerated item or the frozen item, determining for each item
of the at least one item of the one or more grocery items, its own
delivery compliance time; determining, at the second time after the
first time, if the duration of time between the first time and the
second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for the at
least one item of the one or more grocery items comprises:
repeatedly determining, at a plurality of second times after the
first time until the electronic signature is received from the
customer, if the duration of time between the first time and each
second time of the plurality of second times is greater than any of
the delivery compliance times for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items; the delivery compliance time includes a
buffer time for (1) transporting the one or more grocery items from
the store to a vehicle of the pickup and (2) loading the one or
more grocery items into the vehicle; and the one or more
non-transitory storage modules storing the computing instructions
are further configured to run on the one or more processing modules
and perform acts of: if the duration of time between the first time
and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time
for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items,
coordinating displaying an update message on a customer interface
of the customer electronic device, the update message indicating
the pickup has been re-routed to a return location; if the duration
of time between the first time and the second time is greater than
the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items, coordinating displaying on a store interface
of a store electronic device a pickup return notification
indicating that the pickup is returning to the return location due
to an expiration of the delivery compliance time for the at least
one item before the delivery of the order; tracking a pickup
location of the pickup after the pickup has left the store with the
order to deliver the order to the customer; repeatedly determining
a remaining estimated travel time between the pickup location as
tracked and the delivery location; determining if the remaining
estimated travel time exceeds a remaining time in the delivery
compliance time of the at least one item by a predetermined margin;
and if the remaining estimated travel time exceeds the remaining
time in the delivery compliance time of the at least one item by
the predetermined margin, coordinating displaying an expected
expiration message on the pickup interface of the pickup electronic
device of the pickup, wherein the expected expiration message
changes the fulfillment location for the order from the delivery
location requested by the customer to a return location designated
by the store.
11. A method being implemented via execution of computing
instructions configured to run at one or more processors and
configured to be stored at non-transitory computer-readable media,
the method comprising: receiving an order from a customer
electronic device of a customer for a delivery of one or more
grocery items to a fulfillment location, the fulfillment location
comprising a delivery location requested by the customer;
determining a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the
one or more grocery items, wherein if the at least one item is
outside of a temperature-controlled environment for a period of
time that is greater than the delivery compliance time for the at
least one item, then the at least one item expires; receiving a
pickup notification indicating that the at least one item of the
one or more grocery items has been removed from the
temperature-controlled environment at a store at a first time for a
pickup to pick up the one or more grocery items from the store and
deliver the one or more grocery items to the delivery location
requested by the customer; determining, at a second time after the
first time, if a duration of time between the first time and the
second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for the at
least one item of the one or more grocery items; and if the
duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one item
of the one or more grocery items, coordinating displaying an
expiration message on a pickup interface of a pickup electronic
device of the pickup.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the expiration message changes
the fulfillment location for the order from the delivery location
requested by the customer to a return location designated by the
store.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the delivery compliance time
for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items is based
on one or more of (1) a calendar day of a year or (2) an outside
temperature within a predetermined distance to the store.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein: the method further comprises:
determining the at least one item of the one or more grocery items
of the order comprises a refrigerated item or a frozen item; adding
the order to a compliance list, the compliance list comprising a
plurality of orders comprising at least one refrigerated item or at
least one frozen item; receiving an electronic signature from the
customer indicating the order has been delivered to the customer
within the delivery compliance time of the at least one item; and
removing the order from the compliance list after receiving the
electronic signature from the customer; determining the delivery
compliance time, comprises: if the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items comprises the refrigerated item or the frozen
item, determining for each item of the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items, its own delivery compliance time; and
determining, at the second time after the first time, if the
duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one item
of the one or more grocery items comprises: repeatedly determining,
at a plurality of second times after the first time until the
electronic signature is received from the customer, if the duration
of time between the first time and each second time of the
plurality of second times is greater than any of the delivery
compliance times for the at least one item of the one or more
grocery items.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein: the one or more grocery items
of the order comprise a plurality of grocery items; the method
further comprises determining that the plurality of grocery items
comprise at least two temperature-controlled items; determining the
delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items comprises: determining a first delivery
compliance time for a first temperature-controlled item of the at
least two temperature-controlled items; determining a second
delivery compliance time for a second temperature-controlled item
of the at least two temperature-controlled items; and determining a
composite delivery compliance time, the composite delivery
compliance time comprising a lesser of the first compliance
delivery time and the second compliance delivery time; receiving
the pickup notification comprises receiving the pickup notification
indicating that the at least two temperature-controlled items have
been removed from the temperature-controlled environment at the
first time; determining if the duration of time between the first
time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance
time for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items
comprises: determining, at the second time after the first time, if
the duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the composite delivery compliance time; and
coordinating displaying the expiration message on the pickup
interface of the pickup electronic device of the pickup comprises:
if the duration of time between the first time and the second time
is greater than the composite delivery compliance time,
coordinating displaying the expiration message on the pickup
interface of the pickup electronic device of the pickup.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: if the duration of
time between the first time and the second time is greater than the
delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items, coordinating displaying an update message on a
customer interface of the customer electronic device, the update
message indicating the pickup has been re-routed to a return
location.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the delivery compliance time
includes a buffer time for (1) transporting the one or more grocery
items from the store to a vehicle of the pickup and (2) loading the
one or more grocery items into the vehicle.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: if the duration of
time between the first time and the second time is greater than the
delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items, coordinating displaying on a store interface of
a store electronic device a pickup return notification indicating
that the pickup is returning to a return location due to an
expiration of the delivery compliance time for the at least one
item before the delivery of the order.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: tracking a pickup
location of the pickup after the pickup has left the store with the
order to deliver the order to the customer; repeatedly determining
a remaining estimated travel time between the pickup location as
tracked and the delivery location; determining if the remaining
estimated travel time exceeds a remaining time in the delivery
compliance time of the at least one item by a predetermined margin;
and if the remaining estimated travel time exceeds the remaining
time in the delivery compliance time of the at least one item by
the predetermined margin, coordinating displaying an expected
expiration message on the pickup interface of the pickup electronic
device of the pickup, wherein the expected expiration message
changes the fulfillment location for the order from the delivery
location requested by the customer to a return location designated
by the store.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein: the expiration message changes
the fulfillment location for the order from the delivery location
requested by the customer to a return location designated by the
store; the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of
the one or more grocery items is based on one or more of (1) a
calendar day of a year or (2) an outside temperature within a
predetermined distance to the store; the method further comprises:
determining the at least one item of the one or more grocery items
of the order comprises a refrigerated item or a frozen item; adding
the order to a compliance list, the compliance list comprising a
plurality of orders comprising at least one refrigerated item or at
least one frozen item; receiving an electronic signature from the
customer indicating the order has been delivered to the customer
within the delivery compliance time of the at least one item; and
removing the order from the compliance list after receiving the
electronic signature from the customer; determining the delivery
compliance time, comprises: if the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items comprises the refrigerated item or the frozen
item, determining for each item of the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items, its own delivery compliance time;
determining, at the second time after the first time, if the
duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one item
of the one or more grocery items comprises: repeatedly determining,
at a plurality of second times after the first time until the
electronic signature is received from the customer, if the duration
of time between the first time and each second time of the
plurality of second times is greater than any of the delivery
compliance times for the at least one item of the one or more
grocery items; the delivery compliance time includes a buffer time
for (1) transporting the one or more grocery items from the store
to a vehicle of the pickup and (2) loading the one or more grocery
items into the vehicle; and the method further comprises: if the
duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one item
of the one or more grocery items, coordinating displaying an update
message on a customer interface of the customer electronic device,
the update message indicating the pickup has been re-routed to a
return location; if the duration of time between the first time and
the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for
the at least one item of the one or more grocery items,
coordinating displaying on a store interface of a store electronic
device a pickup return notification indicating that the pickup is
returning to the return location due to an expiration of the
delivery compliance time for the at least one item before the
delivery of the order; tracking a pickup location of the pickup
after the pickup has left the store with the order to deliver the
order to the customer; repeatedly determining a remaining estimated
travel time between the pickup location as tracked and the delivery
location; determining if the remaining estimated travel time
exceeds a remaining time in the delivery compliance time of the at
least one item by a predetermined margin; and if the remaining
estimated travel time exceeds the remaining time in the delivery
compliance time of the at least one item by the predetermined
margin, coordinating displaying an expected expiration message on
the pickup interface of the pickup electronic device of the pickup,
wherein the expected expiration message changes the fulfillment
location for the order from the delivery location requested by the
customer to a return location designated by the store.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to monitoring delivery
compliance times of one or more products in an online order.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many customers of retail or grocery stores now desire the
convenience of having their orders delivered to their homes and/or
picking up their already-collected orders at a designated area of
the store. These orders are often made online by the customers
using a website or mobile application for the store. Because
refrigerated delivery trucks are expensive to operate, many grocery
stores now deliver orders with frozen and/or refrigerated items in
non-refrigerated vehicles. With delivery of grocery items, however,
there is a risk that refrigerated and/or frozen items can expire
during delivery due to the refrigerated and/or frozen items being
outside of a temperature-controlled environment for an excessive
amount of time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the
following drawings are provided in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of a computer
system that is suitable for implementing various embodiments of the
systems disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 5;
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a representative block diagram of an
example of the elements included in the circuit boards inside a
chassis of the computer system of FIG. 1;
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a representative block diagram of a
system, according to an embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for a method, according to certain
embodiments; and
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates a representative block diagram of a
portion of the system of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment.
[0009] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing
figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and
descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may
be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure.
Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily
drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements
in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to
help improve understanding of embodiments of the present
disclosure. The same reference numerals in different figures denote
the same elements.
[0010] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like
in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for
distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for
describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to
be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under
appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described
herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other
than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore,
the terms "include," and "have," and any variations thereof, are
intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process,
method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list
of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may
include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such
process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
[0011] The terms "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom,"
"over," "under," and the like in the description and in the claims,
if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for
describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood
that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate
circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods,
and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example,
capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated
or otherwise described herein.
[0012] The terms "couple," "coupled," "couples," "coupling," and
the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two
or more elements mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more
electrical elements may be electrically coupled together, but not
be mechanically or otherwise coupled together. Coupling may be for
any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for
an instant. "Electrical coupling" and the like should be broadly
understood and include electrical coupling of all types. The
absence of the word "removably," "removable," and the like near the
word "coupled," and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc.
in question is or is not removable.
[0013] As defined herein, two or more elements are "integral" if
they are comprised of the same piece of material. As defined
herein, two or more elements are "non-integral" if each is
comprised of a different piece of material.
[0014] As defined herein, "real-time" can, in some embodiments, be
defined with respect to operations carried out as soon as
practically possible upon occurrence of a triggering event. A
triggering event can include receipt of data necessary to execute a
task or to otherwise process information. Because of delays
inherent in transmission and/or in computing speeds, the term "real
time" encompasses operations that occur in "near" real time or
somewhat delayed from a triggering event. In a number of
embodiments, "real time" can mean real time less a time delay for
processing (e.g., determining) and/or transmitting data. The
particular time delay can vary depending on the type and/or amount
of the data, the processing speeds of the hardware, the
transmission capability of the communication hardware, the
transmission distance, etc. However, in many embodiments, the time
delay can be less than approximately one second, two seconds, five
seconds, or ten seconds.
[0015] As defined herein, "approximately" can, in some embodiments,
mean within plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. In other
embodiments, "approximately" can mean within plus or minus five
percent of the stated value. In further embodiments,
"approximately" can mean within plus or minus three percent of the
stated value. In yet other embodiments, "approximately" can mean
within plus or minus one percent of the stated value.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] A number of embodiments can include a system. The system can
include one or more processing modules and one or more
non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions
configured to run on the one or more processing modules. The one or
more storage modules can be configured to run on the one or more
processing modules and perform an act of receiving an order from a
customer electronic device of a customer for a delivery of one or
more grocery items to a fulfillment location. The fulfillment
location can comprise a delivery location requested by the
customer. The one or more storage modules can be further configured
to run on the one or more processing modules and perform an act of
determining a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the
one or more grocery items. If the at least one item is outside of a
temperature-controlled environment for a period of time that is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one
item, then the at least one item expires. The one or more storage
modules can be further configured to run on the one or more
processing modules and perform an act of receiving a pickup
notification indicating that the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items has been removed from the temperature-controlled
environment at a store at a first time for a pickup to pick up the
one or more grocery items from the store and deliver the one or
more grocery items to the delivery location requested by the
customer. The one or more storage modules can be further configured
to run on the one or more processing modules and perform an act of
determining, at a second time after the first time, if a duration
of time between the first time and the second time is greater than
the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items. The one or more storage modules can be
further configured to run on the one or more processing modules and
perform an act of, if the duration of time between the first time
and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time
for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items,
coordinating displaying an expiration message on a pickup interface
of a pickup electronic device of the pickup.
[0017] Various embodiments include a method. The method can include
receiving an order from a customer electronic device of a customer
for a delivery of one or more grocery items to a fulfillment
location. The fulfillment location can comprise a delivery location
requested by the customer. The method also can include determining
a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the one or more
grocery items. If the at least one item is outside of a
temperature-controlled environment for a period of time that is
greater than the delivery compliance time for the at least one
item, then the at least one item expires. The method also can
include receiving a pickup notification indicating that the at
least one item of the one or more grocery items has been removed
from the temperature-controlled environment at a store at a first
time for a pickup to pick up the one or more grocery items from the
store and deliver the one or more grocery items to the delivery
location requested by the customer. The method also can include
determining, at a second time after the first time, if a duration
of time between the first time and the second time is greater than
the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items. The method also can include, if the duration
of time between the first time and the second time is greater than
the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items, coordinating displaying an expiration
message on a pickup interface of a pickup electronic device of the
pickup.
[0018] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary
embodiment of a computer system 100, all of which or a portion of
which can be suitable for (i) implementing part or all of one or
more embodiments of the techniques, methods, and systems and/or
(ii) implementing and/or operating part or all of one or more
embodiments of the memory storage modules described herein. As an
example, a different or separate one of a chassis 102 (and its
internal components) can be suitable for implementing part or all
of one or more embodiments of the techniques, methods, and/or
systems described herein. Furthermore, one or more elements of
computer system 100 (e.g., a monitor 106, a keyboard 104, and/or a
mouse 110, etc.) also can be appropriate for implementing part or
all of one or more embodiments of the techniques, methods, and/or
systems described herein. Computer system 100 can comprise chassis
102 containing one or more circuit boards (not shown), a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) port 112, a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM)
and/or Digital Video Disc (DVD) drive 116, and a hard drive 114. A
representative block diagram of the elements included on the
circuit boards inside chassis 102 is shown in FIG. 2. A central
processing unit (CPU) 210 in FIG. 2 is coupled to a system bus 214
in FIG. 2. In various embodiments, the architecture of CPU 210 can
be compliant with any of a variety of commercially distributed
architecture families.
[0019] Continuing with FIG. 2, system bus 214 also is coupled to a
memory storage unit 208, where memory storage unit 208 can comprise
(i) non-volatile memory, such as, for example, read only memory
(ROM) and/or (ii) volatile memory, such as, for example, random
access memory (RAM). The non-volatile memory can be removable
and/or non-removable non-volatile memory. Meanwhile, RAM can
include dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), etc. Further, ROM
can include mask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), one-time
programmable ROM (OTP), erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) (e.g.,
electrically alterable ROM (EAROM) and/or flash memory), etc. In
these or other embodiments, memory storage unit 208 can comprise
(i) non-transitory memory and/or (ii) transitory memory.
[0020] In various examples, portions of the memory storage
module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein (e.g.,
portions of the non-volatile memory storage module(s)) can be
encoded with a boot code sequence suitable for restoring computer
system 100 (FIG. 1) to a functional state after a system reset. In
addition, portions of the memory storage module(s) of the various
embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., portions of the non-volatile
memory storage module(s)) can comprise microcode such as a Basic
Input-Output System (BIOS) operable with computer system 100 (FIG.
1). In the same or different examples, portions of the memory
storage module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein
(e.g., portions of the non-volatile memory storage module(s)) can
comprise an operating system, which can be a software program that
manages the hardware and software resources of a computer and/or a
computer network. The BIOS can initialize and test components of
computer system 100 (FIG. 1) and load the operating system.
Meanwhile, the operating system can perform basic tasks such as,
for example, controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the
processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices,
facilitating networking, and managing files. Exemplary operating
systems can comprise one of the following: (i) Microsoft.RTM.
Windows.RTM. operating system (OS) by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond,
Wash., United States of America, (ii) Mac.RTM. OS X by Apple Inc.
of Cupertino, Calif., United States of America, (iii) UNIX.RTM. OS,
and (iv) Linux.RTM. OS. Further exemplary operating systems can
comprise one of the following: (i) the iOS.RTM. operating system by
Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., United States of America, (ii) the
Blackberry.RTM. operating system by Research In Motion (RIM) of
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) the WebOS operating system by LG
Electronics of Seoul, South Korea, (iv) the Android.TM. operating
system developed by Google, of Mountain View, Calif., United States
of America, (v) the Windows Mobile.TM. operating system by
Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., United States of America, or
(vi) the Symbian.TM. operating system by Accenture PLC of Dublin,
Ireland.
[0021] As used herein, "processor" and/or "processing module" means
any type of computational circuit, such as but not limited to a
microprocessor, a microcontroller, a controller, a complex
instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced
instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long
instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a graphics processor, a
digital signal processor, or any other type of processor or
processing circuit capable of performing the desired functions. In
some examples, the one or more processing modules of the various
embodiments disclosed herein can comprise CPU 210.
[0022] Alternatively, or in addition to, the systems and procedures
described herein can be implemented in hardware, or a combination
of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, one or more
application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) can be programmed
to carry out one or more of the systems and procedures described
herein. For example, one or more of the programs and/or executable
program components described herein can be implemented in one or
more ASICs. In many embodiments, an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC) can comprise one or more processors or
microprocessors and/or memory blocks or memory storage.
[0023] In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2, various I/O devices
such as a disk controller 204, a graphics adapter 224, a video
controller 202, a keyboard adapter 226, a mouse adapter 206, a
network adapter 220, and other I/O devices 222 can be coupled to
system bus 214. Keyboard adapter 226 and mouse adapter 206 are
coupled to keyboard 104 (FIGS. 1-2) and mouse 110 (FIGS. 1-2),
respectively, of computer system 100 (FIG. 1). While graphics
adapter 224 and video controller 202 are indicated as distinct
units in FIG. 2, video controller 202 can be integrated into
graphics adapter 224, or vice versa in other embodiments. Video
controller 202 is suitable for monitor 106 (FIGS. 1-2) to display
images on a screen 108 (FIG. 1) of computer system 100 (FIG. 1).
Disk controller 204 can control hard drive 114 (FIGS. 1-2), USB
port 112 (FIGS. 1-2), and CD-ROM drive 116 (FIGS. 1-2). In other
embodiments, distinct units can be used to control each of these
devices separately.
[0024] Network adapter 220 can be suitable to connect computer
system 100 (FIG. 1) to a computer network by wired communication
(e.g., a wired network adapter) and/or wireless communication
(e.g., a wireless network adapter). In some embodiments, network
adapter 220 can be plugged or coupled to an expansion port (not
shown) in computer system 100 (FIG. 1). In other embodiments,
network adapter 220 can be built into computer system 100 (FIG. 1).
For example, network adapter 220 can be built into computer system
100 (FIG. 1) by being integrated into the motherboard chipset (not
shown), or implemented via one or more dedicated communication
chips (not shown), connected through a PCI (peripheral component
interconnector) or a PCI express bus of computer system 100 (FIG.
1) or USB port 112 (FIG. 1).
[0025] Returning now to FIG. 1, although many other components of
computer system 100 are not shown, such components and their
interconnection are well known to those of ordinary skill in the
art. Accordingly, further details concerning the construction and
composition of computer system 100 and the circuit boards inside
chassis 102 are not discussed herein.
[0026] Meanwhile, when computer system 100 is running, program
instructions (e.g., computer instructions) stored on one or more of
the memory storage module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed
herein can be executed by CPU 210 (FIG. 2). At least a portion of
the program instructions, stored on these devices, can be suitable
for carrying out at least part of the techniques and methods
described herein.
[0027] Further, although computer system 100 is illustrated as a
desktop computer in FIG. 1, there can be examples where computer
system 100 may take a different form factor while still having
functional elements similar to those described for computer system
100. In some embodiments, computer system 100 may comprise a single
computer, a single server, or a cluster or collection of computers
or servers, or a cloud of computers or servers. Typically, a
cluster or collection of servers can be used when the demand on
computer system 100 exceeds the reasonable capability of a single
server or computer. In certain embodiments, computer system 100 may
comprise a portable computer, such as a laptop computer. In certain
other embodiments, computer system 100 may comprise a mobile
electronic device, such as a smartphone. In certain additional
embodiments, computer system 100 may comprise an embedded
system.
[0028] Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates a block
diagram of a system 300 that can be employed for monitoring
delivery compliance times of online orders, as described in greater
detail below. System 300 is merely exemplary and embodiments of the
system are not limited to the embodiments presented herein. System
300 can be employed in many different embodiments or examples not
specifically depicted or described herein. In some embodiments,
certain elements or modules of system 300 can perform various
procedures, processes, and/or activities. In these or other
embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/or activities can be
performed by other suitable elements or modules of system 300.
[0029] Generally, therefore, system 300 can be implemented with
hardware and/or software, as described herein. In some embodiments,
part or all of the hardware and/or software can be conventional,
while in these or other embodiments, part or all of the hardware
and/or software can be customized (e.g., optimized) for
implementing part or all of the functionality of system 300
described herein.
[0030] In some embodiments, system 300 can include an order system
310, a web server 320, and a display system 360. Order system 310,
web server 320, and display system 360 can each be a computer
system, such as computer system 100 (FIG. 1), as described above,
and can each be a single computer, a single server, or a cluster or
collection of computers or servers, or a cloud of computers or
servers. In another embodiment, a single computer system can host
each of two or more of order system 310, web server 320, and/or
display system 360. Additional details regarding parameter order
system 310, web server 320, and display system 360 are described
herein.
[0031] In many embodiments, system 300 also can comprise user
computers 340, 341. In some embodiments, user computers 340, 341
can be mobile devices. A mobile electronic device can refer to a
portable electronic device (e.g., an electronic device easily
conveyable by hand by a person of average size) with the capability
to present audio and/or visual data (e.g., text, images, videos,
music, etc.). For example, a mobile electronic device can comprise
at least one of a digital media player, a cellular telephone (e.g.,
a smartphone), a personal digital assistant, a handheld digital
computer device (e.g., a tablet personal computer device), a laptop
computer device (e.g., a notebook computer device, a netbook
computer device), a wearable user computer device, or another
portable computer device with the capability to present audio
and/or visual data (e.g., images, videos, music, etc.). Thus, in
many examples, a mobile electronic device can comprise a volume
and/or weight sufficiently small as to permit the mobile electronic
device to be easily conveyable by hand. For examples, in some
embodiments, a mobile electronic device can occupy a volume of less
than or equal to approximately 1790 cubic centimeters, 2434 cubic
centimeters, 2876 cubic centimeters, 4056 cubic centimeters, and/or
5752 cubic centimeters. Further, in these embodiments, a mobile
electronic device can weigh less than or equal to 15.6 Newtons,
17.8 Newtons, 22.3 Newtons, 31.2 Newtons, and/or 44.5 Newtons.
[0032] Exemplary mobile electronic devices can comprise (i) an
iPod.RTM., iPhone.RTM., iTouch.RTM., iPad.RTM., MacBook.RTM. or
similar product by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., United States
of America, (ii) a Blackberry.RTM. or similar product by Research
in Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) a Lumia.RTM. or
similar product by the Nokia Corporation of Keilaniemi, Espoo,
Finland, and/or (iv) a Galaxy.TM. or similar product by the Samsung
Group of Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. Further, in the same or
different embodiments, a mobile electronic device can comprise an
electronic device configured to implement one or more of (i) the
iPhone.RTM. operating system by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.,
United States of America, (ii) the Blackberry.RTM. operating system
by Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) the
Palm.RTM. operating system by Palm, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.,
United States, (iv) the Android.TM. operating system developed by
the Open Handset Alliance, (v) the Windows Mobile.TM. operating
system by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., United States of
America, or (vi) the Symbian.TM. operating system by Nokia Corp. of
Keilaniemi, Espoo, Finland.
[0033] Further still, the term "wearable user computer device" as
used herein can refer to an electronic device with the capability
to present audio and/or visual data (e.g., text, images, videos,
music, etc.) that is configured to be worn by a user and/or
mountable (e.g., fixed) on the user of the wearable user computer
device (e.g., sometimes under or over clothing; and/or sometimes
integrated with and/or as clothing and/or another accessory, such
as, for example, a hat, eyeglasses, a wrist watch, shoes, etc.). In
many examples, a wearable user computer device can comprise a
mobile electronic device, and vice versa. However, a wearable user
computer device does not necessarily comprise a mobile electronic
device, and vice versa.
[0034] In specific examples, a wearable user computer device can
comprise a head mountable wearable user computer device (e.g., one
or more head mountable displays, one or more eyeglasses, one or
more contact lenses, one or more retinal displays, etc.) or a limb
mountable wearable user computer device (e.g., a smart watch). In
these examples, a head mountable wearable user computer device can
be mountable in close proximity to one or both eyes of a user of
the head mountable wearable user computer device and/or vectored in
alignment with a field of view of the user.
[0035] In more specific examples, a head mountable wearable user
computer device can comprise (i) Google Glass.TM. product or a
similar product by Google Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif., United States
of America; (ii) the Eye Tap.TM. product, the Laser Eye Tap.TM.
product, or a similar product by ePI Lab of Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, and/or (iii) the Raptyr.TM. product, the STAR 1200.TM.
product, the Vuzix Smart Glasses M100.TM. product, or a similar
product by Vuzix Corporation of Rochester, N.Y., United States of
America. In other specific examples, a head mountable wearable user
computer device can comprise the Virtual Retinal Display.TM.
product, or similar product by the University of Washington of
Seattle, Wash., United States of America. Meanwhile, in further
specific examples, a limb mountable wearable user computer device
can comprise the iWatch.TM. product, or similar product by Apple
Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., United States of America, the Galaxy
Gear or similar product of Samsung Group of Samsung Town, Seoul,
South Korea, the Moto 360 product or similar product of Motorola of
Schaumburg, Ill., United States of America, and/or the Zip.TM.
product, One.TM. product, Flex.TM. product, Charge.TM. product,
Surge.TM. product, or similar product by Fitbit Inc. of San
Francisco, Calif., United States of America.
[0036] In some embodiments, web server 320 can be in data
communication through Internet 330 with user computers (e.g., 340,
341). In certain embodiments, user computers 340-341 can be desktop
computers, laptop computers, smart phones, tablet devices, and/or
other endpoint devices. Web server 320 can host one or more
websites. For example, web server 320 can host an eCommerce web
site that allows users to browse and/or search for products, to add
products to an electronic shopping cart, and/or to purchase
products, in addition to other suitable activities.
[0037] In many embodiments, order system 310, web server 320,
and/or display system 360 can each comprise one or more input
devices (e.g., one or more keyboards, one or more keypads, one or
more pointing devices such as a computer mouse or computer mice,
one or more touchscreen displays, a microphone, etc.), and/or can
each comprise one or more display devices (e.g., one or more
monitors, one or more touch screen displays, projectors, etc.). In
these or other embodiments, one or more of the input device(s) can
be similar or identical to keyboard 104 (FIG. 1) and/or a mouse 110
(FIG. 1). Further, one or more of the display device(s) can be
similar or identical to monitor 106 (FIG. 1) and/or screen 108
(FIG. 1). The input device(s) and the display device(s) can be
coupled to the processing module(s) and/or the memory storage
module(s) order system 310, web server 320, and/or display system
360 in a wired manner and/or a wireless manner, and the coupling
can be direct and/or indirect, as well as locally and/or remotely.
As an example of an indirect manner (which may or may not also be a
remote manner), a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch can be used to
couple the input device(s) and the display device(s) to the
processing module(s) and/or the memory storage module(s). In some
embodiments, the KVM switch also can be part of order system 310,
web server 320, and/or display system 360. In a similar manner, the
processing module(s) and the memory storage module(s) can be local
and/or remote to each other.
[0038] In many embodiments, order system 310, web server 320,
and/or display system 360 can be configured to communicate with one
or more user computers 340 and 341. In some embodiments, user
computers 340 and 341 also can be referred to as customer
computers. In some embodiments, order system 310, web server 320,
and/or display system 360 can communicate or interface (e.g.,
interact) with one or more customer computers (such as user
computers 340 and 341) through a network or internet 330. Internet
330 can be an intranet that is not open to the public. Accordingly,
in many embodiments, order system 310, web server 320, and/or
display system 360 (and/or the software used by such systems) can
refer to a back end of system 300 operated by an operator and/or
administrator of system 300, and user computers 340 and 341 (and/or
the software used by such systems) can refer to a front end of
system 300 used by one or more users 350 and 351, respectively. In
some embodiments, users 350 and 351 also can be referred to as
customers, in which case, user computers 340 and 341 can be
referred to as customer computers. In these or other embodiments,
the operator and/or administrator of system 300 can manage system
300, the processing module(s) of system 300, and/or the memory
storage module(s) of system 300 using the input device(s) and/or
display device(s) of system 300.
[0039] Meanwhile, in many embodiments, order system 310, web server
320, and/or display system 360 also can be configured to
communicate with one or more databases. The one or more databases
can comprise a product database that contains information about
products, items, or SKUs (stock keeping units) sold by a retailer.
The one or more databases can be stored on one or more memory
storage modules (e.g., non-transitory memory storage module(s)),
which can be similar or identical to the one or more memory storage
module(s) (e.g., non-transitory memory storage module(s)) described
above with respect to computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Also, in some
embodiments, for any particular database of the one or more
databases, that particular database can be stored on a single
memory storage module of the memory storage module(s), and/or the
non-transitory memory storage module(s) storing the one or more
databases or the contents of that particular database can be spread
across multiple ones of the memory storage module(s) and/or
non-transitory memory storage module(s) storing the one or more
databases, depending on the size of the particular database and/or
the storage capacity of the memory storage module(s) and/or
non-transitory memory storage module(s).
[0040] The one or more databases can each comprise a structured
(e.g., indexed) collection of data and can be managed by any
suitable database management systems configured to define, create,
query, organize, update, and manage database(s). Exemplary database
management systems can include MySQL (Structured Query Language)
Database, PostgreSQL Database, Microsoft SQL Server Database,
Oracle Database, SAP (Systems, Applications, & Products)
Database, and IBM DB2 Database.
[0041] Meanwhile, communication between order system 310, web
server 320, display system 360, and/or the one or more databases
can be implemented using any suitable manner of wired and/or
wireless communication. Accordingly, system 300 can comprise any
software and/or hardware components configured to implement the
wired and/or wireless communication. Further, the wired and/or
wireless communication can be implemented using any one or any
combination of wired and/or wireless communication network
topologies (e.g., ring, line, tree, bus, mesh, star, daisy chain,
hybrid, etc.) and/or protocols (e.g., personal area network (PAN)
protocol(s), local area network (LAN) protocol(s), wide area
network (WAN) protocol(s), cellular network protocol(s), powerline
network protocol(s), etc.). Exemplary PAN protocol(s) can comprise
Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB), Z-Wave,
etc.; exemplary LAN and/or WAN protocol(s) can comprise Institute
of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 (also known as
Ethernet), IEEE 802.11 (also known as WiFi), etc.; and exemplary
wireless cellular network protocol(s) can comprise Global System
for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Evolution-Data
Optimized (EV-DO), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE),
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Digital Enhanced
Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA)), Integrated Digital Enhanced
Network (iDEN), Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), Long-Term
Evolution (LTE), WiMAX, etc. The specific communication software
and/or hardware implemented can depend on the network topologies
and/or protocols implemented, and vice versa. In many embodiments,
exemplary communication hardware can comprise wired communication
hardware including, for example, one or more data buses, such as,
for example, universal serial bus(es), one or more networking
cables, such as, for example, coaxial cable(s), optical fiber
cable(s), and/or twisted pair cable(s), any other suitable data
cable, etc. Further exemplary communication hardware can comprise
wireless communication hardware including, for example, one or more
radio transceivers, one or more infrared transceivers, etc.
Additional exemplary communication hardware can comprise one or
more networking components (e.g., modulator-demodulator components,
gateway components, etc.).
[0042] Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 4 illustrates a flow
chart for a method 400, according to an embodiment. Method 400 is
merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented
herein. Method 400 can be employed in many different embodiments or
examples not specifically depicted or described herein. In some
embodiments, the activities of method 400 can be performed in the
order presented. In other embodiments, the activities of method 400
can be performed in any suitable order. In still other embodiments,
one or more of the activities of method 400 can be combined or
skipped. In many embodiments, system 300 (FIG. 3) can be suitable
to perform method 400 and/or one or more of the activities of
method 400. In these or other embodiments, one or more of the
activities of method 400 can be implemented as one or more computer
instructions configured to run at one or more processing modules
and configured to be stored at one or more non-transitory memory
storage modules 512, 514, and/or 562 (FIG. 5). Such non-transitory
memory storage modules can be part of a computer system such as
order system 310, web server 320, and/or display system 360 (FIGS.
3 & 5). The processing module(s) can be similar or identical to
the processing module(s) described above with respect to computer
system 100 (FIG. 1).
[0043] Many customers of retail or grocery stores now desire the
convenience of having their orders delivered to their homes and/or
picking up their already-collected orders at a designated area of
the store. These orders are often made online by the customers
using a website or mobile application for the store. Because
refrigerated delivery trucks are expensive to operate, many grocery
stores now deliver orders with frozen and/or refrigerated items in
non-refrigerated vehicles. With delivery of grocery items, however,
there is a risk that refrigerated and/or frozen items can expire
during delivery due to the refrigerated and/or frozen items being
outside of a temperature-controlled environment for an excessive
amount of time. Many embodiments of method 400 solve this problem
by determining how long items have been out of a
temperature-controlled environment and recalling items during
delivery that have been out of a temperature-controlled environment
for a period of time that exceeds a delivery compliance time.
[0044] Method 400 can comprise an activity 405 of receiving an
order from a customer for a delivery of one or more grocery items
to a fulfillment location. In many embodiments, the one or more
grocery items can comprise a plurality of grocery items. The
grocery items can comprise grocery items from one or more group of
items: (1) ambient temperature items that do not require a
temperature-controlled environment during storage and/or transport;
(2) refrigerated items that require typical refrigeration
temperatures known in the art during storage and/or transport;
and/or (3) frozen items that require typical freezer temperatures
known in the art during storage and/or transport.
[0045] In some embodiments, activity 405 and other activities in
method 400 can comprise using a distributed network comprising
distributed memory architecture to perform the associated activity.
This distributed architecture can reduce the impact on the network
and system resources to reduce congestion in bottlenecks while
still allowing data to be accessible from a central location.
[0046] In many embodiments, the fulfillment location can comprise a
delivery location requested by the customer. The delivery location
can, for example, comprise a home address, a business address, a
public place, and so on. In some embodiments, the fulfillment
location can comprise the location where a pickup is directed to
deliver the one or more grocery items of the order. As shall be
described in greater detail below, the fulfillment location can
change during delivery of the order based on various
circumstances.
[0047] After receiving the order, method 400 can optionally
comprise additional activities. For example, in some embodiments,
method 400 can comprise an activity of determining at least one
item of the one or more grocery items of the order comprises a
refrigerated item or a frozen item. More particularly, each of the
one or more grocery items can be designated in system 300 as an
ambient temperature item, a refrigerated item, or a frozen item.
System 300, therefore, can determine if any items in the order are
either refrigerated items or frozen items. If any of the items in
the order are either refrigerated items or frozen items, method 400
can optionally comprise an activity of adding the order to a
compliance list. The compliance list can comprise one or more
orders that each comprise at least one refrigerated item or at
least one frozen item.
[0048] Method 400 can further comprise an activity 410 of
determining a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the
one or more grocery items. The at least one item, for example, can
comprise one or more items determined to be a refrigerated item
and/or a frozen item. If the frozen item or the refrigerated item
is outside of a temperature-controlled environment for a period of
time that is greater than the delivery compliance time for the
frozen item or the refrigerated item, respectively, then the frozen
item or the refrigerated item expires. For example, if ice cream
has a delivery compliance time of 15 minutes, then ice cream cannot
be out of a temperature-controlled environment for more than 15
minutes or the ice cream expires and is not suitable for delivery
to the customer. The temperature-controlled environment can
comprise a refrigerator for a refrigerated item, a freezer for a
frozen item, or any other atmosphere or temperature-controlled
environment known in the art. As used herein, the
temperature-controlled environment excludes the ambient temperature
of the store, warehouse, fulfillment center, delivery vehicle, and
so one. In some embodiments, however, the delivery compliance time
for an item can be extended if the item is placed in a cooler, dry
ice, etc., for delivery.
[0049] In some embodiments, the delivery compliance time for an
item can be based on or substantially equal to a logistic
suppliance guideline for the item. For example, a frozen item of
ice cream can comprise a logistic suppliance guideline recommending
that the ice cream not be out of a freezer for more than 15
minutes. The delivery compliance time for the ice cream, then, can
comprise 15 minutes in some embodiments. In some embodiments,
however, the delivery compliance time includes a buffer time. The
buffer time can be added to or subtracted from the logistic
suppliance guideline to allow time for (1) transporting the one or
more grocery items from the store to a vehicle of the pickup and/or
(2) loading the one or more grocery items into the vehicle. In some
embodiments, the delivery compliance time for an item can be less
than the logistic suppliance guideline for the item. For example,
the delivery compliance time for the ice cream can comprise 10
minutes, with a 5 minute buffer time in addition to the delivery
compliance time.
[0050] In some embodiments, the delivery compliance time also can
be influenced by one or more external factors. More particularly,
the delivery compliance time for each item can based on one or more
of (1) a calendar day of a year and/or (2) outside weather
conditions within a predetermined distance to the store. The
outside weather conditions can comprise a temperature, humidity,
sun exposure, wind chill, heat index, and so on. Thus, in some
embodiments, each item can comprise a base delivery compliance time
which is adjusted depending on (1) the calendar day of a year
and/or (2) the outside temperature within a predetermined distance
to the store. For example, if the ice cream has a base delivery
compliance time of 15 minutes and the temperature outside the store
is 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the delivery compliance time can
comprise 10 minutes. If, however, the ice cream has a base delivery
compliance time of 15 minutes and the temperature outside the store
is 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the delivery compliance time can comprise
20 minutes. Thus, a delivery compliance time for an item can
increase or decrease depending on outside weather conditions and/or
a calendar day of the year.
[0051] As noted above, many orders can comprise a plurality of
items. Among these plurality of items can be items with varying
delivery compliance times. For example, one order can comprise ice
cream with a compliance time of 15 minutes, and also cheese with a
compliance time of 30 minutes. Because the delivery compliance
times for items in a single order can vary, in some embodiments,
activity 410 can comprise determining, for each item of the one or
more grocery items, its own delivery compliance time.
[0052] More particularly, in some embodiments, activity 410 can
comprise determining that the plurality of grocery items comprises
at least two temperature-controlled items. The at least two
temperature-controlled items can comprise any combination of
refrigerated and/or frozen items. When system 300 (FIG. 3)
determines that the plurality of grocery items comprises at least
two-temperature controlled items, method 400 can optionally further
comprise activities of (1) determining a first delivery compliance
time for a first temperature-controlled item of the at least two
temperature-controlled items, and (2) determining a second delivery
compliance time for a second temperature-controlled item of the at
least two temperature-controlled items. When the first delivery
compliance time and the second delivery compliance time are
determined, the first delivery compliance time and the second
delivery compliance time can be compared to determine a composite
delivery compliance time for the order. Thus, in some embodiments,
method 400 can optionally further comprise an activity of
determining a composite delivery compliance time for the order. The
composite delivery compliance time can, in some embodiments,
comprise a lesser of the first compliance delivery time and the
second compliance delivery time. For example, one order can
comprise ice cream with a compliance time of 15 minutes, and also
cheese with a compliance time of 30 minutes. Because the smallest
delivery compliance time of the two items is 15 minutes, the
composite delivery compliance time can comprise 15 minutes rather
than 30 minutes.
[0053] Continuing in FIG. 4, method 400 can further comprise an
activity 415 of receiving a pickup notification indicating that the
at least one item of the one or more grocery items has been removed
from the temperature-controlled environment at the store at a first
time for a pickup to pick up the one or more grocery items from the
store and deliver the one or more grocery items to the delivery
location requested by the customer. In some embodiments, the entire
order can be stored in a separate temperature-controlled
environment for collected orders. In other embodiments, only that
least one item requiring a temperature-controlled environment can
be stored in the separate temperature-controlled environment for
collected orders. Thus, in many embodiments, at least one item is
collected from a first temperature-controlled environment at the
store as part of the collection process, and then stored in a
second, separate temperature-controlled environment at the store.
More particularly, in these embodiments, the first
temperature-controlled environment at the store can be a portion of
the store where products are regularly stored for customer and/or
employee collection (such as a freezer isle in the store), while
the second temperature-controlled environment at the store can be a
separate temperature-controlled environment for only collected
orders. In still other embodiments, the temperature-controlled
environment can refer to the portion of the store where products
are regularly stored for customer and/or employee collection, and a
second temperature-controlled environment for collected orders is
unnecessary. In any event, according to different embodiments, the
first time can begin when (1) the at least one item is removed from
the temperature-controlled environment for collected orders, (2)
the at least one item is removed from the original
temperature-controlled environment at the store holding the at
least one item before the at least one item is collected for the
order, or (3) when the pickup receives the at least one item for
delivery of the order to the delivery location.
[0054] The pickup can be a customer or delivery service employee
walking to the store, or riding a bike to the store. The pickup
also can be a customer or delivery service employee taking a bus, a
subway, bicycle, or a train to the store. The pickup further can be
a customer or delivery service employee driving a car, or taking a
taxi, rideshare, and/or or other transportation method to the
store. The pickup also can be a customer or delivery service
authorizing an autonomous vehicle, drone, etc. to travel to the
store. The pickup electronic device can comprise a mobile
electronic device like a watch, a phone, a tablet computer
electronic device, and the like. In some embodiments, the pickup
electronic device can comprise an electronic device built into the
vehicle of the customer or the delivery vehicle picking up the
order.
[0055] Method 400 can further comprise an activity 420 of
determining, at a second time after the first time, if a duration
of time between the first time and the second time is greater than
the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items. By way of a non-limiting example, the pickup
notification can indicate that an order comprising ice cream (with
a delivery compliance time of 15 minutes) was picked up at the
store at a first time of 4 PM. System 300 (FIG. 3) can then
determine at a second time of 4:10 PM that the duration of time
between the first time and the second time is not greater than the
delivery compliance time for the ice cream, and thus delivery of
the ice cream to the customer can continue to proceed.
Alternatively or additionally, system 300 (FIG. 3) can then
determine at a second time of 4:20 PM that the duration of time
between the first time and the second time is greater than the
delivery compliance time for the ice cream, and thus the ice cream
has expired and must be re-called before delivery.
[0056] In some embodiments, activity 420 can comprise repeatedly
determining, at a plurality of second times after the first time
until an electronic signature is received from the customer, if the
duration of time between the first time and each second time of the
plurality of second times is greater than any of the delivery
compliance times for the at least one item of the one or more
grocery items. For example, system 300 (FIG. 3) can determine every
15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, two minutes, three
minutes, and so on, if the duration of time between the present,
second time and the first time when the order was picked up exceeds
the compliance time for a grocery item in the order. In embodiments
comprising a plurality of grocery items, activity 420 can comprise
determining, at the second time after the first time, if the
duration of time between the first time and the second time is
greater than the composite delivery compliance time, as described
above.
[0057] If the duration of time between the first time and the
second time is determined to be greater than the delivery
compliance time for at least one item of the one or more grocery
items in the order, one or more additional activities can be
performed in response to this determination. For example, method
400 can further comprise an activity 425 of, if the duration of
time between the first time and the second time is greater than the
delivery compliance time for at least one item of the one or more
grocery items, coordinating displaying an expiration message on a
pickup interface of a pickup electronic device of the pickup.
Additionally or alternatively, method 400 can optionally comprise
an activity of generating instructions for providing a pickup
interface on the pickup electronic device that displays the
expiration message.
[0058] The expiration message can, in some embodiments, inform the
pickup that one or more items in the order have expired because a
delivery compliance time has been exceeded. Moreover, the
expiration message can alternatively or additionally indicate which
item(s) of the order have expired. In some embodiments, the
expiration message can change the fulfillment location for the
order from the delivery location requested by the customer to a
return location designated by the store. This change can, in some
embodiments, be visible to the pickup and not the customer.
Additionally or alternatively, this change also can be only a
temporary change. That is, the fulfillment location is temporarily
changed to the return location until the pickup picks up a
replacement item for the expired item, at which point the
fulfillment location reverts back to the delivery location. In some
embodiments, the return location can comprise the store from which
the order was picked up. In other embodiments, the return location
can comprise a different store, warehouse, etc., that is closer to
the location of the pickup.
[0059] In some optional embodiments, a customer can be informed if
the pickup has been re-routed and/or one or more items have
expired. For example, method 400 can optionally comprise an
activity of, if the duration of time between the first time and the
second time is greater than the delivery compliance time for at
least one item of one or more grocery items in an order,
coordinating displaying an update message on a customer interface
of the customer electronic device. Additionally or alternatively,
method 400 can optionally comprise an activity of generating
instructions for providing a customer interface on the customer
electronic device that displays the update message. The update
message can indicate that the pickup has been re-routed to the
store and/or that at least one item has expired because delivery
had exceeded the compliance time for the at least one item.
[0060] Moreover, in some embodiments, method 400 can optionally
comprise an activity of, if the duration of time between the first
time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance
time for at least one item of one or more grocery items in an
order, coordinating displaying on a store interface of a store
electronic device a pickup return notification. Additionally or
alternatively, method 400 can optionally comprise an activity of
generating instructions for providing a store interface on a store
electronic device that displays the pickup return notification. The
pickup return notification can indicate that the pickup is
returning to the store due to an expiration of the delivery
compliance time for at least one item before the delivery of the
order. This can allow the store to select a new item to replace the
expired item in anticipation of the pickup returning to the
store.
[0061] In some embodiments where the at least one item is
re-called, the pickup can deliver the remainder of the one or more
grocery items to the delivery location requested by the customer
before the pickup travels to the return location, Additionally or
alternatively, at the delivery location, the customer or other
recipient of the remainder of the one or more grocery items can
decide whether to receive the at least one item that has been
re-called and, if so, the customer or recipient can receive a
discount for the at least one item that has been re-called.
[0062] One or more embodiments of method 400 can optionally
comprise activities related to a specific location of the pickup as
tracked by system 300 (FIG. 3). For example, method 400 can
optionally comprise an activity of tracking a pickup location of
the pickup after the pickup has left the store with the order to
deliver the order to the customer. More particularly, when the
pickup picks up the order from the store, the pickup electronic
device of the pickup can display a prompt inquiring whether or not
the interface has permission to use the current location of the
pickup electronic device. More particularly, the system 300 (FIG.
3) can seek permission or authorization from the pickup to activate
an internal global positioning system (GPS) unit of the pickup
electronic device to identify the current location of the pickup
electronic device. With permission, the pickup electronic device
can obtain and transmit signals to system 300 (FIG. 3), including
tracking information with the current location of the pickup
electronic device. In some embodiments, the authorization is not
required for system 300 (FIG. 3) to track the pickup electronic
device, and the internal GPS of the pickup electronic device can be
activated automatically when the pickup picks up the order from the
store or even before the pickup picks up the order from the
store.
[0063] When a location of the pickup electronic device is being
tracked, method 400 can optionally comprise an activity of
repeatedly determining an estimated remaining travel time between
the pickup location as tracked and the delivery location. For
example, system 300 can determine a first estimated travel time
between a first pickup location of the pickup and the delivery
location during delivery of the order, and also at least a second
estimated travel time between a second pickup location of the
pickup (different from the first pickup location) and the delivery
location while of the order is in transit to the delivery
location.
[0064] After an estimated travel time is determined, method 400 can
optionally comprise an activity of determining if the estimated
travel time exceeds a remaining time in the delivery compliance
time of at least one item in the order. More particularly, in some
embodiments, method 400 can optionally comprise an activity of
determining if the estimated travel time exceeds, by a
predetermined margin, a remaining time in the delivery compliance
time of at least one item in the order. The predetermined margin
can comprise periods of time, such as but not limited to 1 minute,
2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, and so on. In a
different embodiment, the delivery compliance time has a built-in
margin, so as not use an additional predetermined margin during
delivery.
[0065] In some embodiments, if the estimated travel time exceeds
the remaining time in the delivery compliance time of at least one
item by the predetermined margin, method 400 can optionally
comprise an activity of coordinating displaying an expected
expiration message on the pickup interface of the pickup electronic
device of the pickup. Additionally or alternatively, method 400 can
optionally comprise an activity of generating instructions for
providing the pickup interface on the pickup electronic device that
displays the expected expiration message. The expected expiration
message can, in some embodiments, change the fulfillment location
for the order from the delivery location requested by the customer
to a return location designated by the store. The return location
can be the store from which the order was picked up by the pickup
or, alternatively, can be a different store, warehouse, etc.,
closer to the current location of the pickup.
[0066] Optional embodiments of method 400 can require a signature
of a customer when the order is delivered to the customer. In some
embodiments, the signature can indicate that the order was received
within the delivery compliance time of each of the items in the
order. Thus, method 400 can optionally comprise an activity of
receiving an electronic signature from the customer indicating the
order has been delivered to the customer within the delivery
compliance time of the at least one item. In some embodiments, the
electronic signature can be received from the pickup electronic
device, where the customer has electronically signed for the order.
Once the electronic signature has been received, method 400 can
optionally comprise an activity of removing the order from the
compliance list after receiving the electronic signature from the
customer.
[0067] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a portion of system
300 comprising order system 310, web server 320, and display system
360, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Each of order
system 310, web server 320, and display system 360 is merely
exemplary and not limited to the embodiments presented herein. Each
of order system 310, web server 320, and display system 360 can be
employed in many different embodiments or examples not specifically
depicted or described herein. In some embodiments, certain elements
or modules of order system 310, web server 320, and display system
360 can perform various procedures, processes, and/or acts. In
other embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/or acts can be
performed by other suitable elements or modules.
[0068] In many embodiments, order system 310 can comprise
non-transitory memory storage module 512. Memory storage module 512
can be referred to as order module 512. In many embodiments, order
module 512 can store computing instructions configured to run on
one or more processing modules and perform one or more acts of
method 400 (FIG. 4) (e.g., activity 405 of receiving an order from
a customer for a delivery of one or more grocery items to a
fulfillment location (FIG. 4), activity 415 of receiving a pickup
notification indicating that a pickup has picked up the one or more
grocery items from a store at a first time (FIG. 4), an activity of
tracking a pickup location of the pickup after the pickup has left
the store with the order to deliver the order to the customer, and
an activity of repeatedly determining an estimated travel time
between the pickup location as tracked and the delivery
location).
[0069] In many embodiments, order system 310 also can comprise
non-transitory memory storage module 514. Memory storage module 514
can be referred to as compliance module 514. In many embodiments,
compliance module 514 can store computing instructions configured
to run on one or more processing modules and perform one or more
acts of method 400 (FIG. 4) (e.g., an activity of determining the
at least one item of the one or more grocery items of the order
comprises a refrigerated item or a frozen item, activity 410 of
determining a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the
one or more grocery items (FIG. 4), an activity of adding the order
to a compliance list, activity 420 of determining, at a second time
after the first time, if a duration of time between the first time
and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time
for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items (FIG.
4), an activity of receiving an electronic signature from the
customer indicating the order has been delivered to the customer
within the delivery compliance time of the at least one item, an
activity of removing the order from the compliance list after
receiving the electronic signature from the customer, and an
activity of determining if an estimated travel time exceeds a
remaining time in the delivery compliance time of the at least one
item by a predetermined margin).
[0070] In many embodiments, display system 360 can comprise
non-transitory memory storage module 562. Memory storage module 562
can be referred to as display module 562. In many embodiments,
display module 562 can store computing instructions configured to
run on one or more processing modules and perform one or more acts
of method 400 (FIG. 4) (e.g., activity 425 of, if the duration of
time between the first time and the second time is greater than the
delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one or
more grocery items, coordinating displaying an expiration message
on a pickup interface of a pickup electronic device of the pickup
(FIG. 4); an activity of, if the duration of time between the first
time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance
time for the at least one item of the one or more grocery items,
coordinating displaying an update message on a customer interface
of the customer electronic device; an activity of, if the duration
of time between the first time and the second time is greater than
the delivery compliance time for the at least one item of the one
or more grocery items, coordinating displaying on a store interface
of a store electronic device a pickup return notification
indicating that the pickup is returning to the store due to an
expiration of the delivery compliance time for the at least one
item before the delivery of the order; and an activity of, if the
estimated travel time exceeds the remaining time in the delivery
compliance time of the at least one item by the predetermined
margin, coordinating displaying an expected expiration message on
the pickup interface of the pickup electronic device of the
pickup).
[0071] Although systems and methods for monitoring delivery
compliance times of online orders have been described with
reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made without
departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Accordingly,
the disclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the
scope of the disclosure and is not intended to be limiting. It is
intended that the scope of the disclosure shall be limited only to
the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of
ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that any
element of FIGS. 1-5 may be modified, and that the foregoing
discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily
represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. For
example, one or more of the procedures, processes, or activities of
FIG. 4 may include different procedures, processes, and/or
activities and be performed by many different modules, in many
different orders.
[0072] All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential
to the embodiment claimed in that particular claim. Consequently,
replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes
reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other
advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with
regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions
to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any
benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced,
however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or
essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unless
such benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in
such claim.
[0073] Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are
not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the
embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in
the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express
elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of
equivalents.
* * * * *